Law Enforcement

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on what happens if a former officer fails to meet the criteria for certification, making this an area of uncertainty.

Law Enforcement Officer Certification After Retirement or Separation

This bill requires Tennessee's Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) commission to issue certificates of compliance to retired or separated police officers who meet certain criteria.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the POST commission to give a certificate of compliance to former law enforcement officers when they retire or leave their job.
• Says that former officers can get this certificate every year if they complete required training, have good standing from their old agency, live in Tennessee, pay fees, and meet other requirements set by the commission.
• Clarifies that former officers do not receive extra pay for getting certified and must tell the commission right away if they move to another state or territory.
• Allows the POST commission to make rules about how to follow this law.

Who It Names or Affects

• Former police officers in Tennessee who retire or leave their job.
• The Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) commission in Tennessee.

Terms To Know

Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission

A group that sets rules for training and certifying police officers in Tennessee.

Certificate of Compliance

A document given to former police officers who meet certain requirements after they retire or leave their job.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a former officer fails to meet the criteria for certification.
• It is unclear how much this will cost and who will pay for it.
• The rules that the POST commission makes about following this law have not been created yet.

Official Summary Text

This bill requires t
he
Tennessee peace officer standards and training
(POST)
commission
to
issue a certificate of compliance to a law enforcement officer upon separation from service or retirement from the law enforcement agency that employed the officer. Upon separation from service or retirement, the former officer is entitled to certificat
ion annually if the former officer
meets all of the following criteria:



Has satisfactorily completed an approved recruit training program as required by
existing law relative to the training of police officers.


Is up to date on the former officer's annual in-service training commensurate with the former officer's rank and responsibilities
.


Provides the commission with a letter of good standing upon separation from service or retirement from the executive head of the officer's former employing law enforcement agency for each year that the former officer applies for certification under this
bill.


Provides the commission annually with proof satisfactory that the former officer is a resident of this state, including the county of residence
.


Pays any fee associated with the issuance or renewal of such certification
.


Satisfies all other requirements of the commission for certification under this
bill
after separation from service or retirement.

This bill clarifies that a
former law enforcement officer certified under this
bill (i) i
s not entitled to a pay supplement for such certification and
(ii) must
notify the commission immediately upon becoming a resident of another state or territory of the United States. Upon receipt of such notice, the former officer is not eligible to renew the certification.

RULEMAKING

This bill authorizes the
commission
to
promulgate rules to carry out this
bill.

Current Bill Text

SENATE BILL 1744
By Bowling

HOUSE BILL 1485
By Hale
HB1485
009371
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 38,
Chapter 8, relative to the peace officer standards
and training commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 38-8-107, is amended by adding the
following new subsection:
(1) The commission shall issue a certificate of compliance to a law enforcement
officer upon separation from service or retirement from the law enforcement agency that
employed the officer. Upon separation from service or retirement, the former officer is
entitled to certification annually if the former officer:
(A) Has satisfactorily completed an approved recruit training program as
required by this part;
(B) Is up to date on the former officer's annual in-service training
commensurate with the former officer's rank and responsibilities;
(C) Provides the commission with a letter of good standing upon
separation from service or retirement from the executive head of the officer's
former employing law enforcement agency for each year that the former officer
applies for certification under this subsection ( );
(D) Provides the commission annually with proof satisfactory that the
former officer is a resident of this state, including the county of residence;
(E) Pays any fee associated with the issuance or renewal of such
certification; and

- 2 - 009371

(F) Satisfies all other requirements of the commission for certification
under this subsection ( ) after separation from service or retirement.
(2) A former law enforcement officer certified under this subsection ( ):
(A) Is not entitled to a pay supplement for such certification; and
(B) Shall notify the commission immediately upon becoming a resident of
another state or territory of the United States. Upon receipt of such notice, the
former officer is not eligible to renew the certification.
(3) The commission may promulgate rules to carry out this subsection ( ) in
accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, codified in title 4, chapter 5.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.